Starching-machine.



' Patented Det. IU",""I899. G. B. WHEELER.

STABCHING MACHHE.

(Appiicmon med tu. 27, 1899.;

(Ho Model.)

I lNJEN'TmQ: a /3 MQ@ g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. WHEELER, OF BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Paten-t No. 634,711, dated october 1o, 1899.

Application filed March 27,1899. `Serial Fo. 710,593.` (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it Wawy concern:- f i Be it known that I, GEORGE B. WHEELER,

of Bellows Falls, in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful'lniprovements in Starching- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for y starching collars-and ends and other articles of textile fabric, such articles being hereinafter referred to under the name of goods. The invention has for its Vobject to provide a simple and compact machine adapted to thoroughly incorporate the starch into the goods during a relatively shortprogressive movement of the goods through the machine.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim. Y

-Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, Figure l represents an end elevation of a starchiug-machiue em` bodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents aA transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on the line -3 3 of Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 represent perspective views of details. Fig. 6 `represents an end view showing a modification. Fig. 7 represents another modification. Fig. S represents a modified form of belt. 1

The same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all theiigures.

In the drawings, ci Vrepresents `a starch-4 tank mounted on a suitable supporting-frame, said tank surrounding by its sides, ends, and bottom a casing, forming a steam-chamber b, which receives .steam through a pipe b to keep the starch in the tank ci suitably heated.

An outlet-pipe Z710 extends from the bottom of the tank a through the bottom of the casing and is provided witha suitable valve, so that the starch may be readily removedfroin the tank. V o represents the starching-cylinder, which is' affixed-to a shaft o', journaled in bearings on the supporting-frame of the machine, the cylinder being preferably composed of a body portion of perforated sheet metal and a covering of textile fabric placed upon said body portion. The lower portion of the cylinder projects into .the tank a, so that the cloth portedby guide-rolls f' f2 f3 `covering ofthe cylinder is supplied with i starch by the tank.

, CZ d represent a series of pressure-rolls, which are located in the tank a below the cylinder and are therefore immersed in the starch. Said rolls are supported by a frame e, which is mounted to oscillatein a path con- -:centric with-*the periphery of the cylinder, the

-rollsbeing arranged in a segmental series, so that each roll acts on the goods passed, as lhereinafter described, along the under surface of the cylinder. The frame e is provided with the guides e', which are radially 'arranged relatively to the axis of the cylinder, and the rolls d are journaledin bearings id', having stems or rods d2, which are mov-l able in the guides e. Springs d3, interposed between the inner ends ofthe guides e', and

nuts d4, screwed upon the'inner ends of the rods d2, press said rods and the rolls d yieldyingly toward the axis of the cylinder.

f represents an endless belt vor apron composed of any suitable texile fabric and supf3 f3. The guide-rolls f and f2 are arranged to hold the upper stretch of the belt in a curved position against that portion of the periphery of the cylinder which projects into the starch-tank,

while the guide-rolls f3 ffi f3 couduotthe under stretch of the belt through the starchtank, all as shown in Fig. 2. The rear guideirollfg is pressed yieldingly against the cylinder oragainst the portion of .the'belt that is interposed between it andthe cylinder' in order that the starch raisedfroin the tank by the'cylinder and belt may be squeezed out of the belt andthe cover of the cylinder ,and caused to drop back into the tank. The said roll f2is supported by bearings attached to arms fwhioh are hinged at f5 to the supporting-trarne of the machine and are pressed vtoward the cylinder bymeans of weights f6, Vmounted on arms f7, afiixedto the'armsft. gIt is obvious that this pressure may be. ap- ;plied tothe arms and to the roll f2 by springs suitably arranged instead of by the weights f6, .but I preferthe latter.

The Viframe e is adapted-to oscillate about theshaft c', the latter being the center of oscillation. The frame is provided with arms e2 e2, projecting downwardly from theupper ICO f that the starch which comes in contact with' belt. cillating motion of the frame and'rolls, eachL cylinder, in the same direction.

cillating motion of the frame.

frame e about the shaft c', and thus giving ther rolls d ay back-and-forth motion along the underside of the portion of the beit that bears upon the cylinder. The rolls are pressedyieldingly against this portion ofthe belt, so that' they exert pressure yupon the goods that pass ybetween the cylinder and This pressure is'distributed by the osroll being 'causedto move back and forth over a considerable extent ofy the periphery of the cylinder. The result of this action is the goods is thoroughly incorporated into the meshes of the goods during their passage between theguide-rollsf and f2. yIn this way a 'much more thorough saturation of the goods is securedk during the short travel of the goodsV between the cylinder and belty than would be possible if the pressure-rolls did not have the described back-and-forth moveyment. The means here shown for oscillatingthe frame e comprise an eccentric wristl f ment'of the pitmanjand an oscillatingmovement of the frame e about the shaft c.

Means are provided for rotating the cylinder c, and thus feeding the goods progressively between the cylinder` and belt. The preferred means for rotating the cylinder is a connection between the frame e and the shaft c', said connection being such that the shaft and cylinder receive a step-by-step inotion when the frameeis oscillated. Said connection comprises a ratchet-Wheel o, affixed to the shaft c', and a pawl p, pivoted at p to an ear formed on or affixed to the frame e. When the frame e is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, the pawl p engages the ratchet o and turns it, with the Then the frame e is moving in the opposite direction, a stop-pawl q,pivoted at q to a fixed armon the supporting-frame, engages the ratchet 0 and prevents backward rotation of the ratchet and cylinder. The progressive movement of the cylinder is imparted to the belt, so that the goods are carried forward between the cylinder and belt at a rate determined by the rate of rotation of the cylinder.

In Fig. 6 I show as the means of rotating the cylinder a gear connection between the shaft c' and the shaft t, which causes the os- Said gear connection comprises awel-1n '1t on thefshal'tr/z, a worm-gearu, meshing with the worm u and affixed to an intermediate shaft u2, a beveled gear on the shaft u2,and a beveled gear n4 on the shaft c'.

I prefer yto make the frame e in two gen-fr eral parts or'se'ctions 5 6, one comprising f the mai'nportion of the frame that is located above the shaft of the cylinder, while the other comprises the mainportion that is lof cated below said shaft. The sections 5y 6 are separably connected, so that the section 5 can be removed from the section (i andffrom the Sio shaft c', thus permitting the removal kof'said f shaft and the cylinder for convenience in repairing, cleaning, or renewing its covering.V

yAs here shown, the Section5 is provided with slotted ears 7 at its rear portion and with slots S at its fronty portion. The ears 7 receive bolts 9, pivoted at l0 to the rear portion of the section 6, while the slots 8 receive studs u l2, affixed to the front portion of the section 6. When the sections are connected,the nuts '1.3, screwed upon the bolts 9, hold the rear portionsof the sections together,and the studs 12,-enteringfthe slots 8, hold the front portions of the sections together. Then the nuts 13 are removed, the rear portion of thek section 5 may beswung kupwardly until the bearings e3 clear the shaft o'. then ber removed fromy the studs l2. kThe section 6 will then rest loosely in the tank a.

- I do not'limit myself tothe detailsrof mechanism here shown and may variously modify the same without departing fromfthe spirit of my invention.

The slots 8 can IOO f It is obvious that the rolls d instead of being allowed to rotate loosely may be fastened to their supports, so that they will rub against the apron without rotating, in which case they would constitute pressure-bars. I intend the term rolls as used herein to cover either loosely-rotating pressure-rolls or nonrotating pressure-bars. y

The cylinder may be covered with a sheet or tube of cellular rubber instead of cloth, the rubber being elastic and compressible. The belt or apron may also be composed of cellular sheet-rubber, (see Fig. 8,) the cells being open at the side of the belt next the cylinder. I prefer, however, to use both for the covering of the cylinder and as the material of the belta comparatively loose textile fabric, such as cheese-cloth.

My invention may be embodied in a machine in which the periphery of the cylinder has a back-and-forth motion, the rolls d having no back-and-forth movement excepting on their own axes, the latter bein g stationary. Means for operating the cylinder in this way are shown in Fig. 7, in which 'w represents a ratchet-wheel affixed to the shaft c of the cylinder. w' represents a lever fulcrumed on said shaft and having on one arm two oppositely-projecting dogs to2 w3, each adapted to engage the ratchet fw, the teeth of which are formed so that one dog can rotate the ratchet IIO to a fixed support and interposed between thev dog w3 andthe ratchet. It willbe seen, therefore, that when the lever to' is moving in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. '7 the dog to2 engages the ratchet and moves the latter in the same direction a distance equal to the full throw of the dog. 'When the lever w moves in the opposite direction, the dog w3 is prevented from engaging the ratchet during the rst partof its movement, the dog dropping into engagementwith the ratchet after passing the shield and giving the ratchet a shorter movement than that given by the dog 'L02 and in the opposite direction. l,The ratchet-wheel and the cylinder c are therefore rocked or rotated back and forth,-the belt f moving back and forth with the cylinder, so that the goods. between the belt and cylinder are subjected to a distributed pressure, due tothe back-and-forth movement of the cylinder over the rolls, which have no back-and-forth movement excepting on their own axes, or the rolls may have a back-and- 'forth 'movement similar to that hereinbefore described, the rolls and cylinder moving simultaneously in opposite directions.

It will be seen that in the modification shown in Fig. 7, as Well as in the preferred construction, the rolls d constitute a segmental or pressure member at one side of the belt, while the cylinder constitutes a continuouspressure member at the opposite side of the belt, the continuity of the cylinder enabling it to return the starched goods to the operators station at the front of the machine, so that one operator can insert andy remove the goods. By imparting a back-and-forth motion to one of said members,as described, sufficient pressure is imparted to the goods during their relatively short travel between the cylinder and belt to thoroughly incorpo-' rate the starch into the meshes of the goods and enable them to be returned to the operator by the cylinder properly starched.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructin g and using the same, although Without attempting to set forth all of the formsin which it maybe made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim isl. A starching-machine comprising a cylinder, a segmental series of rollsV pressed si,- multaneously toward the periphery of the cylinder, a loose belt or apron interposed between the cylinder and rolls, means for presenting starch to the belt and cylinder, the said rolls constituting a segmental-pressure member at one side of the belt, While the cylinder constitutes a continuous-pressure member at the opposite side of the belt-,automatic mechanism for imparting a back-and-'forth tary cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, an endlessA belt or apron and guide-rollers therefor, arranged to hold a stretch ot' the beltin a curved position against a portion ofthe periphery of the cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder to cause a progressive movement ot' the goods between the cylinder and belt, a series of rolls bearing simultaneously on the under side ot'r the curved portion of the belt so that they exert pressure simultaneously through the belt on the goods passing between the cylinder and belt, and means for reciprocating said Apressure-rolls in a curved path to give each roll a backand-forth motion'on the curved portion ot the belt and distribute its pressure on the belt and on the goods.

3. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, an endless belt or apron and vguide-rollers therefor arranged to hold a stretch ofthe belt in a curved position against a portion of the periphery of the cylinder,

means for rotating the cylinder to'cause a progressive movement of the goods between 'the cylinder and belt, a frame mounted to oscillate in a path concentric with the periphery of the cylinder, means for oscillating said frame, and a series of rolls supported and reciprocated in a curved path by said frame, said rolls bearing simultaneously against the curved portion of the belt, and exerting pres- 'sure through the latter on the goods between the cylinder and belt.

4. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, an endless belt or apron, and guide rollers therefor arranged to hold a stretch of the belt in a curved position against a portion of the periphery of the cylinder,a frame mounted to oscillate in apath concentric With the periphery of the cylinder, means for oscillating said frame, a series of rolls supported and reciprocated in a curved path by said frame, and connections between the frame and cylinder through which a progressive rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder and belt, said rolls bearing simultaneously against the curved portion ofthe belt and exerting pressure through the latter on the goods between-the cylinder and belt.

5, A starching machine comprising a rotary cylinder, means for presenting starch to ythe cylinder, an endless belt or apron, guidelOO IIS

squeezing starch from the portion of the belt that rises from the tank, intermediate guiderolls for the lower stretch of the belt, a series of pressure-rolls bearing simultaneously against the under side ot the curved stretch of the belt, means for progressively rotating the cylinder to feed the goods between the belt and cylinder, and means vfor reciprocating said rolls in a curved path to distribute their pressure on the belt and goods.

6. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, a frame mounted to oscillate in ya path which is concentric with the periphery of the cylinder, radial guides on said frame, a series of pressure-rolls mounted in bearings which are radially movable in said guides, springs acting on said bearings to press the rolls inwardly toward the axisot the cylinder, a belt or apron movable between the cylinder and pressure-rolls and means for oscillating the frameto distribute the pressure of 'the rolls. y

7. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, a ratchet-wheel affixed to the shaft of the cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, a belt or apron movable against aportion of the cylinder, a frame, mounted to oscillate on the said shaft, a series of rolls Carried by said frame and arranged to bear simultaneously against the belt, means for oscillating the frame to give the rolls a baek-and-forth motion on the belt, and a pawl carried by the frame and engaged with the said ratchet-wheel, whereby the cylin der is given a step-by-step forward rotation.

8. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, a ratchet-wheel affixed to the shaft of the cylinder, means for presenting starch to the cylinder, a belt or apron niovable against a portion ofthe cylinder, a frame mounted to oscillate on the said shaft, a sen ries of rolls carried by said frame and arranged to bear simultaneously against the belt, means for oscillating the frame to give the rolls a back-and-forth motion on the belt, a pawl carried by the frame and engaged with the said ratchet-wheel whereby the cylinder is given a step-by-step forward rotation, and means for preventing the backward rotation of the cylinder.

9. A starching-machine comprising a rotary cylinder, means forpresenting starclito` the cylinder, a belt or apron movable against a portion of the cylinder, a frame composed of two separably-connected sections, one eX- tending above and the other below the cylinder-shaft, a series of rolls supported by the lower section of the frame and arranged to bear simultaneously against the belt, and means for oscillating the frame.

In testi mon y whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. VHEELER.

Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, P. W. PEZZETTL 

